The Implementation of Successful Public Participation in Thailand

Abstract

This study has found that the concepts of public participation in development, “participatory governance,” used by the Office of Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) as their administrative guideline and for implementation by Thai government officials at present, are different from the western theory when applied in actual practice. The study utilized qualitative methods and multiple case studies. The researcher participated in the study and collected data through in-depth interviews, documentary analysis, observation, field notes, and focus group discussions. The key informants were the public officers, people, and civil society that participated in the projects which resulted in awards for participatory governance being given to the governors of three Thai provinces.

This study attempted to answer the following questions: 1) How is the current situation engaged in by Thai people? 2) What are the factors that influence successful public participation? and 3) What is the model for successful public participation?

The initial use of public participation was not generated by the requirements of the community; rather, it was from projects originated by the ideas of the governmental sectors. Public service officers are driven by the policy to build on the success of participatory governance, and then a selected community is approached to work with.